Dr. Roshan Thomas, a Canadian optometrist who opened an eye clinic in Pakistan and founded a school in Afghanistan, was among those killed in the attack on the Serena Hotel in Kabul on Thursday.

When news of her death became public, tributes streamed out on social media for the woman who dedicated her life to helping the poor overseas.

Senator Mobina Jaffer tweeted that Thomas “cared about Afghan girls and dearly loved her family. She was going to be a grandmother for the first time soon.”

“Rohan #Thomas in true Canadian spirit worked hard especially for education of #Afghan girls a great Canadian who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Jaffer tweeted.

Thomas spent years volunteering overseas with her husband Roger, an ophthalmologist, working with impoverished people in Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to an online profile.

The couple established an eye clinic in an Afghan refugee camp near Karachi, Pakistan, and later developed a nursing manual, the profile said.

Shortly afterward, Thomas turned her attention to education, especially for those in early childhood. She returned to school, obtained an MA in early childhood development and was a PhD candidate in curriculum studies when she died, another profile stated.

In 2003, Thomas opened the Sparks Academy, an independent school in Kabul. She lobbied the Afghan government to invest in early childhood development while practicing what she preached with 900 students at her school.

She split her time between Kabul and Vancouver.

In a 2004 interview with Peter Mansbridge on CBC, Thomas spoke about the need for young children in Afghanistan to learn to play.

“When we started this, it was difficult for them to have any fun,” she said. “They just wouldn’t have any fun that normal children in another country would have because they’ve suffered such tragedy in their young lives. So to get them to sing or play was something we had to really work at. So it was wonderful to see them spontaneously singing ‘Bingo.’”

Moving from health care to education was a natural step, she said.

“Education is the foundation of any society, and with our experiences in working in refugee camps in Pakistan, (we) quickly realized education was what was needed to get them out of this cycle of perpetual poverty.”

According to a former student, Thomas combined western and Afghan influences in their education.

“At Sparks Academy, we are taught the values of cultural pluralism and voluntary service,” said the student.

According to a report, Thomas helped the student, who went on to get her International Baccalaureate diploma at the Lester B. Pearson United World College in Victoria, B.C.

Thomas also served as president of the Canadian Club of Vancouver and chaired the Aga Khan Education Board for B.C.